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Cerebral Palsy World Championships to be held this summer in New London
06/17/2005 - Athletes with physical disabilities from 36 countries will compete for World Championship titles at the 2005 Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) World Championships at Connecticut College in New London, Conn., June 27 through July 10.
The Championships feature world-class athletic competition in nine sports for people with cerebral palsy-related physical disabilities.
Nearly 1,000 athletes with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, stroke, or brain injury will compete in the sports of Bowls, Cross Country, Cycling, Powerlifting, Slalom, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Track & Field. With so many sports being contested at one time, the Championships will utilize multiple venues, including Connecticut College's pool, field house, Dawley Field, Silfen Track, and the 1941 Room. The track events for Cycling will be held at the Kissena Velodrome in New York City and the Cycling road races and time trials will take place at Harkness Memorial Park in Waterford, Conn. The Bowls events will be held at Elizabeth Park in Hartford, Conn..
The athletes competing in the Championships devote countless hours to training and practices.
The 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships will be hosted by the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA), the governing body responsible for the conduct and administration of approved sports for athletes with physical disabilities in the United States.
Sponsorship packages are available for individuals or organizations interested in making a difference in the lives of athletes with physical disabilities.
All packages can be custom tailored to meet the specific needs of each sponsor.
For more information on the 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships, including volunteering and sponsorship information, please call (860) 267-6757 or visit www.cpworldchampionships.org, www.nationalsportsfestival.org, or www.ndsaonline.org.
Thirty-Six Countries Entered to Compete at 2005 World Championships for Athletes with a Disability
New London, CT-May 6, 2005-Athletes with physical disabilities from 36 countries will compete for World Championship titles at the 2005 Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) World Championships at Connecticut College in New London, CT, June 27 - July 10. The Championships feature world-class athletic competition in nine sports for people with cerebral palsy-related physical disabilities.
The following teams have filed entries to compete in the Championships:
Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England/Wales, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United States, and Uzbekistan.
Nearly 1,000 athletes with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, stroke, or brain injury will compete in the sports of Bowls, Cross Country, Cycling, Powerlifting, Slalom, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Track & Field. With so many sports being contested at one time, the Championships will utilize multiple venues, including Connecticut College's pool, field house, Dawley Field, Silfen Track, and the 1941 Room. The track events for Cycling will be held at the Kissena Velodrome in New York City and the ycling road races and time trials will take place at Harkness Memorial Park in Waterford, CT. The Bowls events will be held at Elizabeth Park in Hartford, CT.
"This will be the largest number of people with cerebral palsy-related disabilities gathered together in one place at any one time in the United States," said World Championships Director Bill Wilkie. "It's sure to be the most exciting event of its kind ever, and we know that the spectators who come to watch and cheer on the athletes will come away from the competition with a new appreciation for the amazing skills these athletes demonstrate."
The 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships will be hosted by the National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA), the governing body responsible for the conduct and administration of approved sports for athletes with physical disabilities in the United States.
The National Disability Sports Alliance formulates rules, implements policies and procedures, conducts national championships in twelve sports, disseminates safety and sports medicine information, and selects athletes to represent the United States in international competition.
A member of the United States Olympic Committee, NDSA also hosts the National Sports Festival, an annual athletic competition held at Connecticut College. In 2000, the NDSA National Sports Festival hosted the U.S. Paralympic Team Track & Field trials for the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. NDSA earned the right to host the World Championships because of its consistent success hosting the annual National Sports Festival.
"The 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships will be approximately the same size and scope as the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games," said NDSA Executive Director Jerry McCole. "We know the Championships will mean so much to hundreds of athletes with disabilities and their families, and we invite everyone to come see what makes this event so special."
The athletes competing in the Championships devote countless hours to training and practice, working ceaselessly to prove themselves worthy of the top honors in their respective sports. Most of them juggle school or work responsibilities along with serious training regimens and regular competition to improve their skill.
In addition to exceptional athletes, the 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships is proud to welcome an extraordinary list of dignitaries to its Honorary Advisory Board. Drew Bennett, a wide receiver for the National Football League's Tennessee Titans; Tony Award winner Betty Buckley; Emmy-winning actor Gordon Clapp; Edward "Teddy" Kennedy, Jr., a distinguished lawyer and leader in the civil rights movement for persons with disabilities; five-time Olympic Medal winning swimmer John Naber; three-time Olympic equestrian Jessica Ransehousen; and world-famous Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan head the list of Advisory Board members.
Sponsorship packages are available for individuals or organizations interested in making a difference in the lives of athletes with physical disabilities. All packages can be custom tailored to meet the specific needs of each sponsor.
For more information on the 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships, including volunteering and sponsorship information, please call (860) 267-6757 or visit www.cpworldchampionships.org/, www.nationalsportsfestival.org/, or www.ndsaonline.org/.
Contact: Lisa Patterson, (508) 698-6810, classic.pr@verizon.net
Tennessee Titan Joins Tony and Emmy Award Winners on Honorary Advisory Board for 2005 World Championships for Athletes with a Disability
New London, CT—February 19, 2004—National Football League star Drew Bennett, Tony Award winner Betty Buckley, and Emmy-winning actor Gordon Clapp head the growing list of Honorary Advisory Board members for the 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships for athletes with a physical disability.
The Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) World Championships, to be held at Connecticut College in New London, CT, July 2-10, 2005, is a world-class athletic competition for people with physical disabilities.
Drew Bennett, a wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, has demonstrated a strong commitment to athletes with physical disabilities throughout his career. He has hosted “Celebrity Chef Night” at the Belle Meade Brasserie in Nashville to benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee and has worked extensively with the Easter Seals ABLE (Athletes Building Life Experiences) program, helping to raise money to buy wheelchairs for athletes with disabilities.
Bennett has also participated in the Titans’ Charity Golf Classic and several hospital and school visits. His brother Richie won three Bronze Medals in Track & Field at the 1999 International Cerebral Palsy World Games in Australia.
Betty Buckley is a celebrated stage and screen actress whose notable career includes her Tony Award-winning performance as Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS. Buckley has starred in a myriad of other renowned Broadway musical productions, including 1776, Sunset Boulevard, Carrie, Pippin, Song & Dance, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Gordon Clapp won the 1998 Best Supporting Actor Emmy for his portrayal of Detective Greg Medavoy on ABC television’s NYPD Blue. He began his career in the theater, performing in numerous productions throughout New England, as well as in Nova Scotia and Toronto. He made several appearances in Canadian television movies before making his feature film debut, appearing with Michael Douglas in Running.
Clapp performed in several other films, including the acclaimed Return of the Secaucus Seven, prior to moving to Los Angeles in 1989. Since that time, he has appeared in various television movies and has made many television series guest-appearances on shows such as Night Court, Cheers, The Wonder Years, Cop Rock, and Civil Wars.
At the 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships, the world’s top athletes with physical disabilities will come together to compete in the sports of Boccia, Bowls, Cross Country, Cycling, Powerlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Track & Field. Approximately 1,000 athletes from 40 countries, including the United States, are expected to compete in the World Championships.
The National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) National Sports Festival will host the CP-ISRA World Championships as part of its 2005 event. The NDSA National Sports Festival is recognized as a premier host of athletic competitions for athletes with physical disabilities. Events focus on showcasing talent, as well as providing opportunity for competition against others of similar ability. The NDSA National Sports Festival offers excitement and challenge to all participants and draws recognition and involvement from many countries outside the USA.
For more information on the NDSA National Sports Festival or the 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships, please call (860) 267-6757 or visit www.nationalsportsfestival.org or www.ndsaonline.org.
Olympic Veterans Join Honorary Advisory Board
for 2005 World Championships for Athletes with a Disability
New London, CT—March 16, 2004—Five-time Olympic Medalist John Naber and three-time Olympic veteran Jessica Ransehousen join the growing list of Honorary Advisory Board members for the 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships for athletes with a physical disability.
The Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) World Championships, to be held at Connecticut College in New London, CT, July 2-10, 2005, is a world-class athletic competition for people with physical disabilities. The World Championships are expected to draw more than 1,000 athletes from at least 40 countries.
John Naber is one of the United States’ most successful Olympians. He was the most highly decorated athlete at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, earning four individual Gold Medals and one individual Silver in swimming. Naber was the first swimmer ever to earn two individual medals on the same day of Olympic competition. In his career, Naber set six world records in swimming, including four set at the 1976 Olympics.
Naber is a member of four Halls of Fame, including the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame, and is a gifted motivational speaker. In his speeches, he teaches audiences how to think and act like an Olympic champion. Addressing topics such as goal-setting, problem-solving, and team-building, Naber delights audiences with countless stories of ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary feats.
Jessica Ransehousen is a world-renowned equestrian dressage rider. She has competed at three Olympic Games and has represented the United States at numerous top international competitions. Ransehousen has also served as Chef d’Equipe (coach) for the U.S. team at many international competitions, including the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games where she guided her squads to the team Bronze medal each time.
She was Chef d’Equipe at the 1999 Pan American Games when the U.S. team won double Gold Medals as well as at the 2003 Pan American Games when the U.S. repeated its team Gold. Ransehousen was also Chef d’Equipe at the 2002 World Equestrian Games where the United States won the team Silver Medal, the best performance ever by an American dressage team at any World Championship or Olympic Games.
Ransehousen has shown a deep commitment to athletes with disabilities, attending forums on judging dressage riders with disabilities and openly promoting equestrian sport to athletes with disabilities.
She said, “I’ve been so inspired by riders with disabilities that I’m proud to support athletic competition in other sports for athletes with disabilities.”
At the 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships, the world’s top athletes with physical disabilities will come together to compete in the sports of Boccia, Bowls, Cross Country, Cycling, Powerlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Track & Field.
The National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA) National Sports Festival will host the CP-ISRA World Championships as part of its 2005 event. The NDSA National Sports Festival is recognized as a premier host of athletic competitions for athletes with physical disabilities. Events focus on showcasing talent, as well as providing opportunity for competition against others of similar ability. The NDSA National Sports Festival offers excitement and challenge to all participants and annually draws recognition and involvement from many countries outside the USA.
For more information on the 2005 CP-ISRA World Championships or the NDSA National Sports Festival, please call (860) 267-6757 or visit www.nationalsportsfestival.org or www.ndsaonline.org.
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